Andrea La Valleur-Purvis is a British-American sculptor and designer whose work explores human connection, belonging and resilience. Her sculptural works scale from pedestal to beyond life-size, embracing a play of abstract patterns, geometric and architectural forms.
For years, design and sculpture, distinct yet interconnected threads, have woven a narrative through my work. Both disciplines embrace design thinking, play and experimentation represented by geometric and architectural motifs.
After 25 years across diverse creative landscapes, my studio practice now fuses design principles with modern sculpture fabrication techniques.
I’ve long admired the Bauhaus approach to design coupled with the incredible work by master artists actively working in the postmodern 1950’s and 60’s. Alexander Calder, Tony Smith, Isamu Noguchi, Louise Nevelson, and Niki de Saint Phalle are just a few who’s lives and artistic practice influence my own.
Raised in the UK and Germany by a British father and American mother has deeply influenced my artistic style.
My first art show in 1981 was held at Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, now a unesco site, was a center for emerging reform movements in architecture, arts and crafts. These experiences allow me to bring a unique perspective to my work, leaving a distinctive mark on playful expression.
Steel, with its transformative potential, serves as my primary medium.
“My work celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. By shaping seemingly unyielding materials, I explore how we can create beauty and meaning through our connections with others and our ability to adapt and grow.”
Through each unique sculpture, I aspire to ignite viewer curiosity and forge a connection between the artwork and the individual.
With a formal education in Sculpture, Andrea La Valleur-Purvis holds a BFA in Sculpture from the College of Visual Arts (St. Paul, MN, USA), a post graduate in Innovation and Design Thinking from Emeritus (in collaboration with MIT, Tuck and Columbia Universities) and a number of certificates from IDEO and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Her studio practice has been inspired by working artists and teachers who have invested their talent and time to building artists of the future, including Karen Wirth (McKnight Fellow, MCAD, CVA), Sculptor Kurt Dyrhaug (Professor and Distinguished Faculty Research Fellow Lamar University) and under current mentorship by John Nickell, Master Metalsmith and architectural metal fabricator among others.
La Valleur-Purvis’ work is deeply informed by her multicultural upbringing in the UK and Germany by British and American parents. In adulthood, she lived in Spain for 5 years after traveling the world solo for one year in 2015.
Before returning to her passion of making contemporary art, La Valleur-Purvis held creative roles for visionary tech brands for nearly two decades. In 2023, La Valleur-Purvis released her first series of public art installations for the City of Waco, Texas.
She works from her studio in Waco, Texas.
Group Exhibitions
2025 – “Marfa Invitational Open | Texas”, Marfa, TX
2024 – “Austin Studio Tours, 457, Windsor Park Library, Austin, TX
2024 – “Small Works”, Art Center Waco, TX
2024 – “Museum Day”, Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, Austin, TX
2024 – Eclipse Shining Shadows, Art Center Waco, Waco, TX
2000 – ”Foot in the Door”, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
1999 – “Senior Show”, Western Gallery, CVA, St.Paul, MN
Public Art
2025 – 2024 Georgetown Public Sculpture Tour, 1st prize award, Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center, Georgetown, TX
2023 – “Luminary Spirit”, Waco, TX
Commissions
2025 – Suspended Sculpture, Rapoport Academy, Waco, TX – forthcoming
2023-24 – Donor Wall, Startup Waco, Waco, TX
2022 – Entrepreneur Spotlight Display, Startup Waco, Waco, TX
2007 – Seattle Rachel The Pig Sculpture, Rent-a-Box HQ, Bellevue, WA
Awards
2025 – Shortlisted: VAA International Exhibit prize (Top 40 from over 1000 artists)
2024 – 2025 Georgetown Public Sculpture Tour, 1st prize award
Women & Their Work (Austin)
Texas Society of Sculptors
Visual Arts Association (VAA) (UK)
CodaWorx (USA)
Tableau by Visionary Projects (NYC/Global)
City of San Antonio’s Prequalified Artist List
Fresh from the studio | Women and Their Work | Jan, 2025 Youtube Link
Georgetown Sculpture Tour 1st Place Award | October, 2024 Article link
Andrea La Valleur-Purvis | Canvas Rebel | July, 2024 Article link
Meet Andrea La Valleur-Purvis | Bold Journey Magazine | February, 2024 Article link
Conversations with Andrea La Valleur-Purvis | VoyageAustin Magazine | February, 2024 Article link
Light and Shadow | Wacoan Magazine | November, 2023 | Editorial by Susan Bean Aycock Article link
Waco Tribune-Herald | September, 2023 Article link
Conversations with Creative Waco | NPR Radio, August, 2023 | Episode link
Waco Business News – Downtown Depot | NPR Radio, August, 2023| Episode link
Waco Tribune-Herald | May 16, 2023 Article link
Waco Tribune-Herald | May 9, 2023 Article link
Waco Tribune-Herald | February, 2023 Article link
